How to do a slow push?

thartley

thartley

Veteran
I have a shot that is static and I want to apply a slow push/zoom to it. I got as far as knowing I am to use the video event pan/crop and that I am supposed to apply some keyframes. I have no idea how to create a keyframe that will give me the slow animiated push. I've been struggling with this for two nights. I dont understand the settings/process. Any takers on this one? ??? It might just be easier for me to reshoot, but I'd like to learn the functions and capabilities of my software, too.

Thanks...
 
Re: How to do a slow push?

Run, don't walk, to get Gary Kleiner's Vegas training DVDs, or Douglas Spotted Eagle's set.  This is not a facetious response, just think about it -- you've spent two nights trying to figure this out, when if you'd watched Gary's or Spot's training discs, you would already know *everything* about Vegas, and could do that effect in 10 seconds flat!

Okay, commercial time over, back to "helpful" mode... this is really, really easy to do.  Put your clip on the timeline.  clip the "event pan/crop" box.

Look at the bottom of the event pan/crop window, you'll see a little timeline.  Below that, at the very bottom, are some arrows in diamonds.  Those are keyframe navigation buttons.

Click the cursor in the little event fx timeline where you want the push to start (be sure you're clicking in the part of the timeline next to "position", not "mask".)  Then hit the "+" diamond -- that'll add a keyframe.

Then click in the timeline where you want the effect to finish -- when you've zoomed in as much as you want to.  Hit the "+" diamond again.

Now, all you have to do is change the image on that second keyframe, and Vegas will automatically do the resizing for you.  So in the window above the timeline where you see your clip, you'll see a box with a big "F" on it.  That box is the pan/crop box.  On each corner of the frame, and on each side, are handles.  Drag the handles in a little bit, so you're framing around a smaller section of the frame.  That tells Vegas that you want it to zoom in such that the rectangle you created is now going to be the full frame.

That's all there is to it.  Put the event pan/crop box away, go back to your timeline, and watch the effect.  If you've zoomed in too much or too little, re-open the pan/crop box, click in the timeline at the second keyframe point, and adjust the box.  DON'T JUST GRAB THE BOX RIGHT AWAY, because any adjustments you make will make a NEW KEYFRAME!  You want to adjust the keyframe you've been working with, so first click on the keyframe, THEN make the adjustments.

Hope that helps!
 
Re: How to do a slow push?

Man, that was less than 10 seconds... Thanks!!! I got my hands on Spot's Vegas 4 manual, but what I read on keyframing just wasnt working out in my brain, and the accompanying cd-rom doesnt work with my Vegas5. I PROMISE to get one or the other manuals as soon as my rent check clears. ;)

SOOO many thanks for the quick response (and good advice!)

:)
 
Re: How to do a slow push?

If I may make a counter-suggestion, and it can be handled in largely the same way as Barry describes (keyframing methods are pretty universal in Vegas), the track motion (in this case, 2D) is better at rescaling something without distorting the image. Pan/Crop is fantastic with still photos, especially high-resolution ones, but when working with something 720x480, I think track motion does better if you want to make it bigger or smaller.

Only thing to keep in mind is that the keyframes are applied to the TRACK, meaning the timecode is the PROJECT timecode, so be aware of where you’re dropping the little diamonds . . .
 
Re: How to do a slow push?

[quote author=David Jimerson link=board=Vegas;num=1108690866;start=0#3 date=02/18/05 at 06:08:51]the track motion (in this case, 2D) is better at rescaling something without distorting the image.  Pan/Crop is fantastic with still photos, especially high-resolution ones, but when working with something 720x480, I think track motion does better if you want to make it bigger or smaller.[/quote]

If you preserve the aspect ratio of your frame in pan/crop, what becomes distorted?
 
Re: How to do a slow push?

Also...right-click on the little keyframe diamond. It will give you choices as to how fast/slow/etc the "zoom" will be. Experiment with them...see which you like best.

Dan
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top